Georgia Takes No. 1 as Notre Dame Storms Into CFP Top Five — But Did Miami’s Six-Spot Fall Go Too Far?
Georgia has reclaimed the top position in the College Football Playoff rankings, while Notre Dame’s statement victory over Miami has dramatically reshaped the race for the 12-team postseason.
The College Football Playoff race took another major turn on November 10 as the selection committee released its second rankings of the 2026 season.
Georgia moved to No. 1 after dominating Ole Miss, while Notre Dame climbed six places to No. 5 following its 31-24 victory over previously top-ranked Miami. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, dropped six positions to No. 7.
The latest rankings delivered more than a simple change at the top. Undefeated UCLA rose to No. 4, Alabama advanced to No. 3, and Indiana fell five places to No. 9 despite not playing during the weekend.
With the final bracket scheduled for December 6, every major result and committee decision is becoming increasingly important.
But one question is already drawing attention: did Miami deserve such a steep drop after losing a close game on the road, or did Notre Dame’s victory expose a bigger weakness in the Hurricanes’ playoff case?
Georgia Takes Over No. 1 After Dominant Win Over Ole Miss
Georgia made a strong statement in Week 10, defeating Ole Miss 42-7 in Oxford, Mississippi, on November 7.
The victory helped the Bulldogs move from No. 2 to No. 1 in the committee’s second rankings. Georgia entered the game with an 8-1 record and strengthened its position with one of the weekend’s most convincing performances.
The result also followed a difficult stretch in which Georgia had lost its previous hold on the top spot after an October defeat to Auburn.
Now, head coach Kirby Smart’s team is back in control of the rankings.
However, reaching No. 1 does not guarantee a place in the championship game. Georgia still has important regular-season contests ahead, and the committee will continue evaluating teams as the season develops.
The Bulldogs have put themselves in a strong position, but they must maintain that form through the remaining schedule.
Notre Dame Jumps Six Places After Beating Miami
Notre Dame delivered one of the weekend’s biggest results by defeating Miami 31-24 on November 7.
The win moved the Fighting Irish from No. 11 to No. 5 in the latest CFP rankings, placing them ahead of the Hurricanes and directly into the projected playoff field.
The result was especially significant because Miami entered the weekend as the committee’s No. 1 team.
Notre Dame’s victory strengthened its postseason argument and gave the selection committee a direct head-to-head result to consider when evaluating both programs.
The Irish now sit at 8-1, with their position among the top five giving them a much clearer route toward the playoff.
Still, the ranking is not a final invitation. Notre Dame must continue winning and avoid a late-season setback that could weaken its position.
Miami Falls to No. 7 — What Went Wrong?
Miami’s fall from No. 1 to No. 7 was among the most striking changes in the second rankings.
The Hurricanes lost by seven points to Notre Dame on the road, but the committee moved five other teams ahead of them.
Committee chair Hunter Yurachek explained that Miami’s defeat came alongside strong performances by several teams immediately behind the Hurricanes. The committee believed those teams had produced signature wins that justified moving them upward.
Another factor was the absence of wide receiver Malachi Toney, who was unavailable for the Notre Dame game. The committee considers player availability when evaluating teams, and his absence could remain relevant if it continues.
Miami still has an 8-1 record and remains inside the projected 12-team field.
That means the Hurricanes have not been eliminated from contention. But their margin for error has become smaller, and their remaining games could determine whether they recover a higher seed or remain in a more difficult first-round position.
UCLA and Alabama Join the Top Four
Georgia was not the only major winner in the latest rankings.
UCLA climbed four places to No. 4, giving the undefeated Bruins a place among the four teams currently projected to receive first-round byes.
The Bruins improved to 9-0 after a 34-20 victory over Minnesota. Their rise reflects both their unbeaten record and the committee’s assessment of their recent performance.
Alabama also moved into the top four, climbing two places to No. 3 after defeating LSU 31-13.
The Crimson Tide improved to 7-2, strengthening their playoff position with a convincing conference victory.
Utah remained between Georgia and Alabama at No. 2 after defeating BYU 28-20. The Utes are 9-0 and, alongside UCLA, are among the two remaining undefeated teams identified in the latest coverage.
The current top four are therefore Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA — the teams that would receive first-round byes if the playoff bracket were finalized under the present rankings.
Indiana’s Five-Spot Drop Raises Questions
One of the most debated moves involved Indiana.
The Hoosiers dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 even though they did not play during the weekend.
Yurachek described Indiana as potentially being a victim of an ill-timed bye week. The committee also considered the results involving teams Indiana had previously defeated, which affected the strength of its résumé.
At the same time, UCLA’s win over Minnesota helped the Bruins move ahead. Minnesota had taken Indiana to overtime the previous week, giving the committee another point of comparison.
Indiana remains inside the top 12, but the fall shows that a team’s playoff position can change even without taking the field.
The committee evaluates more than a team’s win-loss record. Its considerations include schedule strength, results against common opponents, head-to-head outcomes and other relevant performance factors.
Full 2026 College Football Playoff Rankings — November 10
The committee’s second top 25 is listed below:
| Rank | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 8-1 |
| 2 | Utah | 9-0 |
| 3 | Alabama | 7-2 |
| 4 | UCLA | 9-0 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 8-1 |
| 6 | Texas | 7-2 |
| 7 | Miami | 8-1 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 7-2 |
| 9 | Indiana | 8-1 |
| 10 | BYU | 7-2 |
| 11 | Kentucky | 7-2 |
| 12 | Texas Tech | 8-1 |
| 13 | Wake Forest | 8-1 |
| 14 | Houston | 7-2 |
| 15 | Iowa | 7-2 |
| 16 | Oregon | 6-3 |
| 17 | South Carolina | 6-3 |
| 18 | USC | 7-2 |
| 19 | Ole Miss | 6-3 |
| 20 | Ohio State | 6-3 |
| 21 | LSU | 6-3 |
| 22 | Missouri | 6-3 |
| 23 | Arizona | 7-2 |
| 24 | Boise State | 8-1 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 6-3 |
Records and positions reflect the November 10 CFP ranking release.
Who Would Make the Playoff If the Season Ended Today?
The 2026 College Football Playoff is still using a 12-team format. Under the current projected field, the four highest-ranked teams receive first-round byes, while the next eight teams play in the opening round.
Based on the latest rankings, the projected first-round matchups would be:
- No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Notre Dame
- No. 11 Kentucky at No. 6 Texas
- No. 10 BYU at No. 7 Miami
- No. 9 Indiana at No. 8 Tennessee
Georgia, Utah, Alabama and UCLA would receive the four first-round byes.
One detail matters here: Boise State is ranked No. 24 in the committee’s overall top 25, but it would occupy the No. 12 seed in this projected bracket as the highest-ranked Group of Six team. Its playoff seed is therefore not the same as its position in the overall ranking.
Texas Tech, currently No. 12 in the committee’s rankings, would be the first team outside the projected field under this format.
These matchups are projections, not confirmed fixtures. The final bracket will be determined on Selection Day, December 6.
Ohio State, LSU and Other Teams Face a Tougher Road
The movement outside the top 12 is also worth watching.
Oregon climbed to No. 16 after consecutive wins over ranked opponents, including a 41-28 victory over Ohio State in Columbus.
Ohio State, meanwhile, fell to No. 20 after its second consecutive defeat. LSU dropped to No. 21 following its loss to Alabama.
Ole Miss also suffered a major setback, falling to No. 19 after its 42-7 defeat to Georgia.
These teams are not mathematically out of the race, but their paths are becoming more difficult. Strong performances in the remaining games — and favorable results elsewhere — could still change the picture.
South Carolina, Iowa, Oregon and USC were among the teams outside the top 12 that AP identified as having opportunities to improve their playoff cases through important remaining matchups.
Why the CFP Rankings Are Not the Same as the AP Top 25
Fans should also understand that the College Football Playoff rankings and the Associated Press Top 25 are two different polls.
The CFP rankings are produced by a 13-member selection committee, which evaluates teams and ultimately determines the playoff field.
The AP Top 25, on the other hand, is a separate media poll based on votes from sports journalists.
The two lists can differ because they use different decision-making processes and serve different purposes.
For example, Georgia also topped the AP Top 25 released on November 8, while Notre Dame was No. 3 in that poll. Those positions should not be confused with the committee’s November 10 rankings, where Notre Dame was No. 5.
The committee’s weekly rankings are important because the final committee list determines the playoff bracket.
What Happens Next Before Selection Day?
The November 10 release was only the second of the committee’s scheduled rankings announcements.
Three more ranking releases are scheduled before the final bracket is revealed:
- November 17
- November 24
- December 1
Selection Day is scheduled for December 6, when the committee will determine the final 12-team field.
That leaves several opportunities for Georgia to protect its top position, Notre Dame to strengthen its case, Miami to recover and teams outside the current top 12 to make a late push.
The committee’s weekly rankings are not final playoff selections. The last ranking and the selection process on December 6 will determine which teams advance.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: THE PLAYOFF RACE IS FAR FROM SETTLED
Georgia has regained the No. 1 position, but Notre Dame may have delivered the weekend’s most consequential result by defeating the team that previously held the top spot.
Miami’s six-place fall shows how quickly the playoff picture can change. UCLA and Utah remain undefeated, Alabama has strengthened its position, and Indiana’s unexpected slide has added another debate to an already unpredictable season.
For Notre Dame, the next challenge is turning a major victory into a sustained run toward the postseason. For Miami, the priority is responding before the committee releases its next rankings. And for Georgia, the pressure now shifts to defending the position it has just reclaimed.
There are still games to play, rankings to change and playoff places to secure.
Will Georgia hold on to No. 1, or could another upset completely rewrite the College Football Playoff picture before December 6?
